Osteospermum plant named &#39;SAKOST8194&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new  Osteospermum  plant particularly distinguished by having yellow flowers with dark greyed-purple disc florets and a compact and mounding plant habit is disclosed.

GENUS AND SPECIES

Osteospermum hybrida

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘SAKOST8194’

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of Osteospermum, botanically known as Osteospermum hybrida, and hereinafter referred to by the variety name ‘SAKOST8194’. ‘SAKOST8194’ originated from a hybridization of the Osteospermum proprietary breeding line ‘205057’ (unpatented) and the Osteospermum proprietary breeding line ‘205056’ (unpatented) in Marslev, Denmark. The female parent, ‘205057’ has a yellow flower color with an apricot center, and a compact and mounded plant habit. The male parent, ‘205057’, has a yellow-orange flower color with a dark brown center and semi-erect plant habit.

In May 2006, the two Osteospermum lines ‘205057’ and ‘205056’ were crossed and seeds were obtained. The seeds were sown and approximately 100 plants were grown in pots for evaluation. Out of 100 F₁ lines, plant number 37 was selected which had a yellow flower color, dark disc florets, and compact and mounding plant habit.

In February 2007, plant number 37 was vegetatively propagated by cuttings and re-evaluated in an open field and a greenhouse. Plant number 37 was given the breeder code number ‘207307’ and the stability of the distinct characteristics of this variety was confirmed.

In June 2007, plants from ‘207307’ were evaluated again in pots and in an open field. A plant named ‘SAKOST8194’ was selected and was found to reproduce true to type in successive generations of asexual propagation.

SUMMARY

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new variety when grown under normal horticultural practices in Salinas, Calif.

1. Yellow flower color with dark greyed-purple disc florets; and

2. A compact and mounding plant habit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This new Osteospermum plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographs which show the plant's overall plant habit including form, foliage, and flowers. The photographs are of a plant grown four months from transplant (five months from sticking) into 4-inch pots from rooted cuttings in Salinas, Calif. under greenhouse conditions in the spring of 2011. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

FIG. 1 shows the overall plant habit of the plant grown in a pot.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up of the mature inflorescence of the plant.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘SAKOST8433’. The data which define these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Salinas, Calif. Data was collected on plants grown approximately four months from transplant (five months from sticking) into 4-inch pots under greenhouse conditions in Salinas, Calif. in the winter of 2011. Color references are to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.), 4^(th) edition.

-   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Compositae.         -   Botanical.—Osteospermum hybrida.         -   Common.—Osteospermum, Cape Daisy, South African Daisy.         -   Designation.—‘SAKOST8194’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—The proprietary Osteospermum line ‘205057’             (unpatented).         -   Male parent.—The proprietary Osteospermum line ‘205056’             (unpatented). -   Growth:     -   -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Cuttings will colonize a             2.5 cm diameter by 2.5 cm tall greenhouse tray cell with             peat-based plant media in approximately four weeks. Cuttings             are dipped in a normal dilution (1:9) of Dip ‘N Grow root             inducing solution in water. The trays are misted hourly             during rooting.         -   Environmental conditions for plant growth.—Rooted cuttings             are transplanted to pots with a 16 cm diameter, one plant             per pot. Peat-based growing media is used. The pots are             watered using a 150 ppm to 200 ppm fertilizer solution using             18-8-18 fertilizer. The soil is allowed to dry between             watering. During the first few weeks after transplanting,             the plants should have evening temperatures around 15° C. to             18° C. for good root growth. When plants reach 7.5 cm to 10             cm in height they are pinched back to 5 to 6 leaves to             promote branching. Spring and summer daytime high             temperatures in Salinas, Calif. where the data was             collected, range from 16° C. to 25° C.         -   Time to bloom from propagation.—Approximately four weeks             when rooted vegetative cuttings are transferred to a 4 inch             diameter pot. Flowering season is all year in the United             States. Vernalization is not required to induce flowering. -   Plant description:     -   -   Habit.—Compact and mounding.         -   Life cycle.—Perennial.         -   Form.—Compact and mounding.         -   Height (from soil line to first node).—0.5 cm.         -   Height (from soil line to top of foliage).—36.0 cm to 38.0             cm.         -   Width.—58.0 cm to 60.0 cm. -   Stems:     -   -   General.—Multiple; circular in cross-section.         -   Stem length (total).—14.0 cm to 15.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.2 cm.         -   Internode length.—4.0 cm.         -   Color.—RHS 144A (Yellow-green) with RHS 187A (Greyed-purple)             anthocyanin.         -   Pubescence.—Moderate Color: RHS N155A (White) Shape: Short,             hair-like, fibers.         -   Anthocyanin color.—Slight, RHS 187A (Greyed-purple). -   Branches:     -   -   General.—Circular in cross-section.         -   Number of main branches.—1.         -   Total number of branches.—8.         -   Length.—11.0 cm to 12.0 cm; approximately 1.0 cm from soil             line to first node, 2.0 cm between first and second nodes.         -   Diameter.—0.3 cm.         -   Internode length.—2.0 cm.         -   Color.—RHS 144A (Yellow-green) with RHS 187A (Greyed-purple)             anthocyanin.         -   Pubescence.—Very slight.         -   Pubescence shape.—Short, hair-like fibers.         -   Pubescence color.—RHS N155A (White).         -   Anthocyanin color.—RHS 187A (Greyed-purple). -   Leaves:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate.         -   Shape.—Oblanceolate.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Serrate.         -   Venation.—Pinnate.         -   Surface (both surfaces).—Dull.         -   Surface pubescence (both surfaces).—Slight, mainly around             edge.         -   Surface pubescence color.—RHS N155A (White).         -   Attachment.—Decurrant.         -   Length.—5.5 cm.         -   Width.—1.5 cm.         -   Thickness.—Less than 0.1 cm.         -   Color.—Upper surface: RHS 143A (Green) Lower surface: RHS             143B (Green).         -   Venation color.—Upper surface: RHS 144B (Yellow-green) Lower             surface: RHS 144C (Yellow-green). -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Number per plant.—24.         -   Type.—Capitulum (head); disc florets are perfect and ray             florets are carpellate.         -   Flowering habit.—Determinate.         -   Lastingness of inflorescence on the plant.—3 to 4 days.         -   Fragrance.—Absent.         -   Seed production.—None observed.         -   Diameter.—7.0 cm to 8.0 cm.         -   Depth.—2.0 cm.         -   Petal (ray floret) number.—18 to 24 per inflorescence.         -   Disc diameter.—1.2 cm.         -   Disc floret number.—60 to 80 per inflorescence.         -   Peduncle length.—5.0 cm from inflorescence to first node.         -   Peduncle diameter.—0.2 cm.         -   Peduncle color.—RHS 144A (Yellow-green) with RHS 187A             (Greyed-purple) anthocyanin.         -   Peduncle texture.—Dull, slight pubescence.         -   Phyllaries.—Arrangement: 21 per inflorescence, free,             arranged symmetrically Length: 1.2 cm Width: 0.7 cm Apex:             Acute Margin: Entire Shape: Linear; acute Color (for both             upper and lower surfaces): RHS 143A (Green). -   Ray florets (ligules):     -   -   Corolla.—One ray per ray floret; only the outer row of             florets are the ray florets.         -   Number of ray florets.—18 to 24 per inflorescence.         -   Length.—3.2 cm.         -   Width.—0.7 cm.         -   Shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Base.—Fused.         -   Color.—Upper surface: RHS 6A (Yellow) Lower surface: RHS 6A             (Yellow) with RHS N186C (Greyed-purple) stripes or streaks.         -   Pubescence.—Glabrous. -   Disc florets:     -   -   Color.—Darker than RHS N187A (Greyed-purple).         -   Shape.—Tubular.         -   Apex.—Pointed.         -   Texture.—Dull, pubescent.         -   Size.—Length: 0.6 cm Width: 0.1 cm. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Ovary.—Superior.         -   Pistil form.—One style with two stigma branches.         -   Pistil length.—0.5 cm.         -   Stigma color.—RHS 187A (Greyed-purple).         -   Style color.—RHS 155A (White).         -   Stamens.—5, fused into a single tube.         -   Anther color.—RHS 187A (Greyed-purple).         -   Pollen color.—RHS 17A (Yellow-orange).         -   Filament color.—RHS 155A (White). -   Disease and insect resistance: No known resistance or     susceptibility.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINES AND KNOWN VARIETY

‘SAKOST8194’ is a distinct variety of Osteospermum having yellow colored flowers with dark disc florets, and a compact and mounding plant habit. ‘SAKOST8194’ is distinguished from its parents as described in Table 1 (color references are to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 4^(th) edition).

TABLE 1 Comparison with Parental Lines Male Parent Female Parent Characteristic ‘SAKOST8194’ ‘205056’ ‘205057’ Ray floret (ligule) RHS 6A (Yellow) Yellow- Yellow color, upper orange surface Plant growth Compact and Semi-erect Compact and habit mounding mounding Flower center Darker than RHS color N187A (Greyed- Dark brown Apricot purple)

‘SAKOST8194’ is a distinct variety of Osteospermum having yellow colored flowers with dark disc florets, and a compact and mounding plant habit. ‘SAKOST8194’ is most similar to the Osteospermum plant named ‘Saksisgolye’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,602). Differences between the two varieties are described in Table 2 (color references are to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 4^(th) edition).

TABLE 2 Comparison with Similar Variety Characteristic ‘SAKOST8194’ ‘Saksisgolye’ Ray floret (ligule) RHS 6A (Yellow) RHS 12C (Yellow) with slight color, upper surface: streaking of RHS 187C (Greyed-purple) and RHS 187C (Greyed-purple) at the tip Ray floret (ligule) RHS 6A (Yellow) with RHS RHS 187C (Greyed-Purple) color, lower surface: N186C (Greyed-Purple) stripes with RHS 12B (Yellow) streaks or streaks and RHS 187A (Greyed-Purple) at the tip Plant habit Compact and mounded Very compact an branching 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Osteospermum plant as shown and described herein. 